Articles
CLONING AND SEQUENCING OF THE HYDROPEROXIDE LYASE (HPL) GENE AND GENETIC TRANSFORMATION IN GUAVA
Article number
849_28
Pages
245 – 250
Language
English
Abstract
The guava tree (Psidium guajava L.) is a crop species of great economic interest in tropical and subtropical regions of the world.
The fruit is characterized by a high content of vitamin C, fiber and
-carotenes, all of which are desirable traits for genetic improvement programs.
On the other hand, the progress in the knowledge of the mechanisms and functions of genes in plants, using molecular biology techniques, contribute to increase our understanding of the role played by them and their products in plant development.
The enzyme hydroperoxide lyase (HPL) is widely distributed in plants and is involved in the biosynthesis of volatile aldehydes and alcohols that are important constituents in the characteristic flavour of fruits, vegetables, and leaves.
The products of the HPL reaction have commercial relevance due to their use by the food industry, but they also play an important role in plant defense mechanisms against pathogens and wounds by injuries.
The guava enzyme shows a high similarity to known HPL from other plant species.
Prior work with the guava HPL confirmed that the enzyme shares homology with cytochrome P450, placing it in the cytochrome P45074B subfamily as CYP74B5. However, the catalytic mechanism of HPL is still poorly understood.
For further characterization, the guava HPL gene was cloned and sequenced.
The gene proved to be polymorphic, as observed in a subset from a 100 specimen collection of guavas sampled in different regions of the country.
One guava HPL gene was sub-cloned into a plant transformation vector, and a transformation protocol was performed in order to analyze the effects of HPL gene silencing in guava transformants.
The fruit is characterized by a high content of vitamin C, fiber and
-carotenes, all of which are desirable traits for genetic improvement programs.On the other hand, the progress in the knowledge of the mechanisms and functions of genes in plants, using molecular biology techniques, contribute to increase our understanding of the role played by them and their products in plant development.
The enzyme hydroperoxide lyase (HPL) is widely distributed in plants and is involved in the biosynthesis of volatile aldehydes and alcohols that are important constituents in the characteristic flavour of fruits, vegetables, and leaves.
The products of the HPL reaction have commercial relevance due to their use by the food industry, but they also play an important role in plant defense mechanisms against pathogens and wounds by injuries.
The guava enzyme shows a high similarity to known HPL from other plant species.
Prior work with the guava HPL confirmed that the enzyme shares homology with cytochrome P450, placing it in the cytochrome P45074B subfamily as CYP74B5. However, the catalytic mechanism of HPL is still poorly understood.
For further characterization, the guava HPL gene was cloned and sequenced.
The gene proved to be polymorphic, as observed in a subset from a 100 specimen collection of guavas sampled in different regions of the country.
One guava HPL gene was sub-cloned into a plant transformation vector, and a transformation protocol was performed in order to analyze the effects of HPL gene silencing in guava transformants.
Authors
C. Valecillos, G. Fermin
Keywords
Psidium guajava, molecular biology, P450, CYP74B5, volatile aldehydes
Online Articles (50)